Pack Expo International 2014 nears capacity

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, which owns and produces the Pack Expo family of trade shows, reports exhibit space sales for Pack Expo International 2014 (Nov. 2–5, 2014; McCormick Place, Chicago) have exceeded 970,000 net square feet.

“With more than 1,130 suppliers committed to exhibiting, we have sold 6 percent more space than at the same point in the 2012 show cycle,” says Jim Pittas, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “We anticipate a sold-out show floor, just as we had at Pack Expo Las Vegas this fall.”

Co-located with Pack Expo International 2014 will be Pharma EXPO, a new joint venture from Pack Expo and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). Pharma EXPO space sales have already exceeded initial projections. Together, the shows are expected to span more than 1.1 million net square feet of exhibit space and attract more than 50,000 attendees.

“So often, Pack Expo attendees see a technology in action — even one for another industry — and understand how they can apply it to their own businesses. It’s what we call the ‘serendipity effect’ of Pack Expo, and I think it will get even stronger with the resources of ISPE and Pharma EXPO on site with us next Fall,” Pittas adds.

Attendees in processing, particularly food manufacturing, report benefiting from the serendipity effect, and often look to the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical/medical device industry for processes and innovations they can take home.

Pack Expo attendees come from a range of markets that include Bakery/Snack; Beverage; Confectionery/Candy; Dairy; Fruit/Vegetable; Grain/Mill/Cereal; Meat/Poultry/Seafood; Prepared Foods and Produce/Fresh.

“The technologies used by the Pharma EXPO exhibit base can have practical applications for other processing attendees, particularly because of the regulatory changes in place because of the Food Safety Modernization Act,” Pittas says. “We’re making it easier for our attendees to see more and benefit more from being at PACK EXPO shows.”

It’s only a year away: Pack Expo International 2014 and Pharma EXPO 2014, produced in partnership with ISPE, come to Chicago’s McCormick Place Nov. 2–5, 2014. Visit Packexpo.com to learn more about the shows and exhibiting — and sign up to be notified when registration opens.